Stenographic machine



Jan. 26, 1960 H. B. SMITH 2,922,507

STENOGRAM-uc MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DGO. 24, 1958 Jan. 26, 1960 H. B. SMITH STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll////| u United States Patent (y)l STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Howard B. Smith, Washington, D.C. Application December y24, 1958, Serial No. 782,888

' 1o claims. (ci. 191-9) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stenographic machines, that is, machines used for typing shorthand, and the principal object of the invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of such machines.

In particular, the present invention concerns itself with a machine of the general type disclosed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 662,966, led May 28, 1957, now Patent No. 2,891,647, issued June 23, 1959. This co-pending application discloses a machine having key bars arranged in two sets at opposite sides of a central frame which carries the type bars, rotary platen and other associated components.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of improved means for operatively connecting the type bars to the key bars, while another 2,922,507. Patented Jan. 26, 1960 attachmentY of the type bar shifting bar to one of its supporting cranks; and v Figure 8 is a lfragmentary perspective view of the comb-type spring used in the invention. Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the stenographic machine in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10and embodies in its construction an open frame base 11, the front of which is'indicated at 12. The key bars 13 are arranged in two sets at the opposite sides of the base, the right-hand set being illustrated in Figure 2. The two sets of key bars are transversely spaced and have disposed therebetween a mechanism supporting frame consisting of a pair of transversely spaced, vertical plates 14 which are suitably secured to the base and extend forwardly from the rear of the base for a suitable distance, havingA their front edges spaced rearwardly from the` front 12 of the base so that a paper receiving tray 15 may be accommodated on the front portion of the base between the two sets of key bars, as will be hereinafter described.

A rotatable platen 16 is mounted on a shaft 17 between the plates 14 and a set* of substantially horizon tal type bars `18 are disposed rearwardly of the platen, as shown. The rear'ends of the type bars are pivoted as indicated at 19 to individual rockers 20 which are pivotally mounted on a common shaft 21 extending beimportant feature resides in the provision' of improved means for imparting rotation to the platen, both these means being arranged so as to require the minimum number of working parts and produce smooth and silent operation in response to light touch at the keyboard.

Another important feature of the invention involves a novel arrangement of certain of the keys of the keyboard, kas disclosed in my co-pending patent application Serial No. 736,349, tiled May 19, 1958.

The present application is a continuation-in-part application of my aforementioned application Serial No. 662,966 and application Serial No. 736,349.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as` this specification proceeds, the present invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like'parts, and wherein for illustrative purposes:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a stenographic machine in accordance with the present invention, this view being taken substantially in the plane of the line'1-1 in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 2-2 in Figure l and showing key bars at one side of the machine only;

Figure 3 is a side elevational View, taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 2 and illustrating primarily the platen actuating mechanism, the type bar shifting mechanism being omitted for sake of clarity;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to that shown in Figure 3 and illustrating primarily the typebar shifting mechanism, the platen actuating mechanism being omitted for sake of clarity;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view,

tween the plates 14. The upper end portions of the rockers 20 are provided at the rear edge thereof with one or more contact points 22 which are engaged by upper end portions of upwardly extending extensions 23 of the key bars 13. As is best shown in. Figure 5, these extensions are angulated and staggered so as to pass from the key barsv into the space between the frame plates 14 through suitable openings 24 with which the plates are provided. The rear ends of the key bars 13 which are equipped with the extensions 23 are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 25 fixed in lugs 26 on the base 11 and it will be apparent from the foregoing that when the key bars are depressed as indicated at 27, the extensions 23 will move as indicated at 28 in Figure 1, thus pivoting the rockers 20 about the shaft 21 as shown at 29 and adjusted by the selective use of one contact point or the taken substantially inthe plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing the V other.

' The front ends ofthe type bars 18 carry upper and lower type elements 31, 32, respectively, for making an impression on paper passing over the platen 16. The front end portions of the type bars are slidably supported in a shifter bar assembly 33 which extends transversely through openings 34 in the frame plates 14 and may be raised and lowered so as to correspondingly shift the type bars and bring the type elements 31, 32 selectively into alignment withthe platen. The shifter bar assembly 33 is urged to its lowered position by a suitable tension spring 3S and in itself is of conventional construction, such as for example is disclosed in Patent No. 2,319,273,'issued May 18, 1943, to I. G. Sterling.

The raising and lowering of the shifter bar assembly 33 is effected by the mechanism shown in Figure 4 which illustrates the right-hand side of the machine, it being understood that this mechanism is duplicated on the lefthand side;4 The outer ends of the assembly 33 which project through the openings 34 are secured by suitable screws 36 to upwardly projecting ears 37 provided intermediate the ends of a pair of arms 38 which have their rear ends pivoted at 39 to.V the frame plates 14. A pair of leversVV 40 are pivoted intermediate'their ends. at

`41 to the plates 14 and are disposedbelow the arms 38. vvThe' front end portions of the llevers 40'are provided with Vslots 42 adjustably receiving screws 43on which are mounted rotatable rollers 4.4. The latter engage front lower edge portions ofthe arms 38, sotha-t when the rear ends of the levers 40 are moved downwardly as indicated at 45, the rollers 44 will cause the arms 38 and the associated assembly-33 to move upwardly as indicated at, 46, thus correspondingly: raising theV type bars 18 so that the lower type elements 32 rather than the upper type elements. 31 are aligned with the.v platen 16. The rear ends of the levers 40 are pivoted as at 47 to a pair of links 48 which extend downwardly and have their lower ends pivoted as at 48a to a pair of ligure shift bars 49. As is best shown in Figure 2, each figure shift bar has two side portions 49a, 4911 and arconnecting bight portion 49o, so that it extends around one set of the key bars 13. The front ends of the shift bar portions 49a, 49b carry an elongated key 76, it vbeing understood that another such key exists at the leftfhand side-of the machine. The two keys are depressible selectively and individually, so that the link 48 and lever 40 at only one side of the machine may be used to shift the assembly 33 while the corresponding link, lever and shift bar 49 at the opposite side of the machine are inactive and thus do not unduly increase the force required for the shifting operation. ln other words, when the lever 40 raises the arm 38 at either side of the machine to raise the assembly 33, the arm 38 at the other side of the machine simply raises oif the roller 44 at that side, Without moving the associated lever 40.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be noted that each of the rockers 2li is provided with a forwardly and downwardly extending arm portion 50 having a Contact point 51 at its extremity which engages one of a set of resilient fingers 52 of a comb-shaped spring 53 which is supported by a holder 54 extending between and secured to.- the frame plates 14 by suitable screws 55.. The arrangement of this spring and holder corresponds. to that disclosed in my aforementioned application Serial No. 662,966- and a detailed description thereof herein is unnecessary, it being understood, of course, that thel spring fingers 52, acting against the arm portions.50of the respective rockers 2), urgeV the contact points 22 of the rockers against the extensions 23 of they key. bars 13 and also urge the type bars 18 to a. retracted position. away from the platen 16. The key bars 13 as well as the figure shift bars 49, when in their undepressed position, abut the underside of a pair of stop bars. 57 which are rigidly secured by suitable screws 58 to the plates 14 and project laterally therefrom over the key bars and figure shift bars, as shown. Y

The lower end portions of the rockers 20 engage at their rear edges the front side f a transversely extending universal bar S9 Iwhich. projects through the openings 24 in the plates 14 and has the ends thereof secured by suitable screws 60 to a pair of cranks 61 which are pivoted on the ends of the shaft 21. The crank 61 at the righthand side of the machine is provided with a linger 62 which engages the underside of a rotatable roller 63 mounted on a screw 64 which is `adjustably positioned in a slot v65 formed in a link 66. One end of the latter is pivoted as at 67 to the adjacent plate 1 4, while the other end of the link is pivoted as at 68 to a relatively short link 69 which, in turn, is operatively connected as at 70 to the conventional over-running clutch 71 carried by the shaft 17 for the purpose of impar-ting rotationv to the yplaten 16. A tension spring 72 is connected tothe pivot 68 for pulling the links 66, 69 downwardly andi urging the roller 63 against the finger 62. However, when any one of the key bars 13 is depressed, the associated rocker 2t)V will move the universal bar 59Y as, indicated atjl in Figure 3, thus moving the roller 63 upwardly as at 74 and causing the linkage 66, 69 to move as indicated at 75 to actuate the clutch 71 and turn the platen.

The crank 61 at the left-hand side of the machine (not ishown) is used to impart motion in a suitable manner to an ink ribbon (also not shown)y which passes between the` type elements 31, 32 and the paper on the platen 16. The ribbon arrangementand its actuating means are conventional and do not constitute a component of the present invention.

The front ends of the,rk keyk bars 13 are provided with keys 77, 78 and 79 which, together with the keys 76 of the figure shift bars-49, arearranged. in banks, as indicated in Figure 2. It is to be understood that only a few of the key bars and keys have been shown for illustrative purposes and that as many key bars and keys are provided as are necessary; for actuation o f the severaly type bars with which the machine is. equipped.

As disclosed in my. aforementioned application Serial No. 736,349, the two rear banks of keys 78, 79 are horizontal when their key bars are not depressed, but the two front banks of keys 76, 77 are disposed in a forwardly inclined plane when their key bars are not depressed, such a plane being at an angle of approximately one degree from they horizontal, as indicated at 80, although in the drawings this angularity has been exaggerated for purposes of illustration. The inclined plane of the keys 76, 77 intersects the horizontal plane of the keys 78, 79 at the front edgeV ofthe keys 73 as indicated by the vertical line 8.1, so that the operator may shift his finger from the keys 77 to the keys 78 and vice versa ina sliding manner and without obstruction of a step therebetween. The keys 76, 77 assume a substantially horizontal position when they are depressed.

The paper for use in the machine is stored in a zig-zag folded form in the center of the front portion of the base 11 between the two sides of the keyboard, as indicated at 82 in Figure l. After passing over the platen 16, the paper again assumes a zig-zag folded form and is received in the aforementioned tray 15. The latter consists of a bottom 83, an upstanding rear wall 84 and a pair of side wall members 85 which are disposed at the inside surfaces of the frame plates I4v and are pivotally connected thereto by suitable pins or rivets 86, whereby the entire tray may be swung upwardly as indicated at 87 to facilitate placing of new paper thereunder and threading of the new paper over the platen. A drawer 88, having an open back, is slidably positioned in the tray and occupies the position shown when the machine is not in use. However, when the machine is used, the drawer is slid lforwardly in the tray so as to extend the longitudinal dimension of the tray sufliciently to accommodatethe folded length of the paper.

lt will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides an improved machine utilizing nove` means for operatively connecting the key bars to the type bars, novel means for imparting rotation to the platen in response to movement of the universal bar, novel means for figure shifting the. type bars, as well as a novel arrangement of the paper receiving tray. `These various mechanisms employa lrelativelyl small number of working parts which are arranged so that the machine is small in overall dimensions and light in Weight for easy port-V ability.

While in the foregoing there has` been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent tothose skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is. not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, such as may lie Within` the Spirit and scope. of the appended claims.. I

What is claimed as new is:

.1. In a stenqgraphc. machine., the, combination 0f a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a cross shaft provided in said frame rearwardly of said platen, a set of rockers mounted on said cross shaft, a set of type bars movable toward and away from said platen and having their rear ends pivoted to the respective rockers, a set of key bars pivotally mounted eXteriorly at opposite sides of said frame, and extensions provided on said key bars, said extensions projecting into said frame and operatively engaging the respective rockers.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with arm portions provided on said rockers, and resilient fingers mounted in said frame and engaging the arm portions of said rockers for urging said type bars away from said platen and urging the rockers into operative engagement with the extensions of said key bars.

3. The device as defined in claim l together with a universal bar swingably mounted on said cross shaft and having said rockers in engagement therewith, and means operatively connecting said universal bar to said platen for rotating the same.

4. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a cross shaft provided in said frame, a set of rockers mounted on said cross shaft, a set of type bars movable toward and away from said platen and pivoted to the respective rockers, said type bars having upper and lower type elements, means for raising and lowering said type bars whereby the upper and lower type elements thereof may be brought selectively in alignment with said platen, a set of key bars pivotally mounted exteriorly of said frame, extensions provided on said key bars, said extensions projecting into said frame and operatively engaging the respective rockers, and means responsive to movement of said rockers for imparting rotation to said platen.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said last mentioned means comprise a pair of cranks pivoted on said cross shaft, a universal bar carried by said cranks and having said rockers in engagement therewith, a finger provided on one of said cranks, a link pivoted at one end thereof to said frame and operatively connected at its other end to said platen, and a roller carried by said link and operatively engaging said dinger.

6. The device as defined in claim 4 together with arm portions provided on said rockers, and resilient ngers mounted in said frame and engaging the arm portions of said rockers for urging said type bars away from said platen and urging the rockers into operative engagement with said extensions of said key bars.

7. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for raising and lowering said type bars comprise a pair of arms pivoted to said frame, a shifter bar carried by said arms and supportably engaging said type bars, a pair of levers pivoted to the frame below said arms and operatively engaging the latter, a pair of figure shift bars pivotally mounted adjacent said key bars, and links operatively connecting said -gure shift bars to said levers.

8. The device as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for raising and lowering said type bars comprise a pair of vertically swingable arms pivoted to said frame, a shifter bar carried by said arms and supportably engaging said type bars, a pair of vertically swingable levers pivoted to the frame below said arms, rollers provided jacent and forwardly of said platen.

l0. The device as deiined in claim 4 together with keys provided on said key bars, said keys being disposed in banks with the keys in one bank inclined to the keys in another.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith Apr. 17, 1934 Smith May 19, 1941?1 

